The heartbroken mother of missing airman Corrie McKeague has shared a picture of him the night before he started his career in the RAF.

Nicola Urquhart, 48, released the treasured photo of the pair smiling side by side nearly 40 weeks after the 23-year-old from Fife went missing on a night-out in Bury St Edmunds.

Police search teams who fear the RAF gunner was crushed by a rubbish disposal lorry have sifted through more than 4,430 tonnes of rubbish at a landfill site.

Corrie's mum says this photograph fills her with pride

Posting the photo on Facebook (June 30), Nicola said: "This photo was taken for us, looking at it now reminds me of how it filled me with pride. It was the night before Corrie left to start his career in the RAF.

"Corries family and friends spent the night together having such a good time.

"Talking about how proud we were of him and all the things he could achieve.

"We spoke of fears too but never in my lifetime did I or any of us close to him there that night did we ever imagine we would be here today."

The search for Corrie McKeague at Milton Landfill (Image: David Johnson)

Corrie was last seen walking in a shopping area called the "horseshoe" following a night-out in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

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Meanwhile Corrie's girlfriend, April Oliver, revealed she had given birth to their baby girl.

She posted a picture of her cradling the newborn on Father's Day, whose name she has not yet released.

Posting the new photo of Corrie to the 128,000 members of the Find Corrie Facebook site, Nicola said: "The search will continue next week and further if needed.

"Suffolk police will not stop searching the landfill until they are positive it has been done thoroughly.

"On this, they have my complete trust. After a week of unbearable heat for those working outside they have now spent a week in atrocious conditions with officers having to wade through a meter of water, they have faced problems but have managed to overcome them and continue searching for Corrie."